Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
631. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of protected disclosures that have gone missing or have been compromised that have been submitted to his Department or State bodies that are responsible to his Department. [32292/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department complies with the Protected Disclosures Act (as amended), relevant statutory guidance and follows all necessary procedures for dealing with reports of alleged wrongdoing. When a concern is raised, it is logged, securely held, and managed by a designated Protected Disclosures manager.
My Department is not aware of any protected disclosures that have gone missing and works to ensure that the person making a report is afforded the protections under the Act, including the protection of their identity.
The following bodies under the aegis of my Department operate their own protected disclosures procedures and report separately on reports received:
•An Garda Síochána;
•Courts Service;
•Fiosrú (Office of the Police Ombudsman);
•Irish Prison Service; and
•Legal Aid Board.
In addition, the following officers of agencies under the aegis of my Department are amongst those listed as prescribed persons and report independently on protected disclosures received:
•The Commissioner for Data Protection;
•A member of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission;
•The Director of the Insolvency Service of Ireland;
•The Chief Executive of the Legal Service Regulatory Authority;
•The Chief Executive of the Private Security Authority; and
•The Official Assignee in Bankruptcy in the Insolvency Service of Ireland.
The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation is the lead Department on protected disclosure legislation and provides guidance on all protected disclosure processes.
Section 22(1) of the Protected Disclosures Act provides that every public body, prescribed person and the Protected Disclosures Commissioner shall provide information to the Minister for Public Expenditure on the number of the reports of wrongdoing received in the preceding calendar year. My Department complies with Department of Public Expenditure’s reporting requirements.
